School Funding, At-Risk and All-Day Kindergarten and Performance. Special Report

Governor Sam Brownback has recommended the Kansas Legislature phase-in funding for full day kindergarten programs over the next five years. This proposal has also been adopted by the Kansas State Board of Education. Currently, all kindergarteners are counted as a half-time (0.5) student for funding purposes. About 87 percent of Kansas kindergarteners are already in all day programs. Local school boards and communities made the decision to fund them from state at-risk funding, reallocation of other resources within the district, and in some districts, parent fees. The Governor's proposal to phase-in funding for all-day kindergarten would allow expansion of all day programs. Districts already offering all day programs would receive additional funding to invest in educational programs or reduce cost of attendance to families. This report considers how effectively Kansas school districts have used at-risk and all other financial resources to achieve higher academic outcomes, particularly among "at-risk" students who are more likely to fall short of those outcomes. If the current system is delivering results, it is a strong indication that additional funding provided for all-day kindergarten will be used effectively.